Revdict.

Blend on the Water

Latin American restaurant · 45-40 Center Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11109, United States · United States

4.2 on Google · 5,993 reviews · View on Google Maps

Manipulation score

Clean

Completed Jul 15, 2026 · 107 reviews flagged

How this score works

The score estimates how strongly this place's review record matches known manipulation patterns, from 0 (no signs) to 100. Verdicts: Clean below 40, Suspicious from 40, Likely Manipulated from 70; Review Drive when the flags are mostly staff asking customers for named reviews. It rises with the share of reviews flagged and how suspicious each one is.

Burst
— an abnormal spike of five-star reviews in a single day compared to the place's usual pace.
Low activity account
— the reviewer has almost no other reviews, photos, or Local Guide history; throwaway accounts look like this.
Duplicate text
— the wording is nearly identical to another review of the same place.

Verdicts are statistical estimates based on public review patterns, not accusations. Full methodology, signal definitions and known limits →

Case conclusion

What the numbers say

1,000 reviews examined

Google rating
4.2★

All reviews shown by Google

Not-flagged average
4.2★

893 examined reviews

Flagged
11%

107 of 1,000

Coverage
17%

1,000 of 5,993 Google reviews

“Not flagged” means no configured Revdict signal matched; it does not prove a review is genuine. Data fetched Jul 15, 2026.

Review brief

What reviews not flagged by Revdict say

Blend on the Water offers a visually appealing waterfront setting with stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and a vibrant, floral interior decor. While many reviewers praise the lively atmosphere, strong drinks, and attentive service, others frequently report long wait times, inconsistent food quality, and a rushed dining experience.

+ Repeated strengths

Atmosphere and Views

Reviewers frequently highlight the beautiful floral interior, romantic ambiance, and scenic waterfront views of the Manhattan skyline.

3 supporting reviews

5★ · 2024-06-29

This is one of the most beautiful restaurants I’ve visited. You can’t go wrong with the beautiful riverfront view of Manhattan. The floral interior is BEAUTIFUL and Very INSTAGRAMMABLE, bright and inviting, which is really my kind of vibes...

5★ · 2024-07-24

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Blend on the Water in NYC, and it was an outstanding experience. Situated in Long Island City with stunning views of the Manhattan skyline, the location alone makes it a special place to visit. The...

5★ · 2026-06-10

Had such a great time at Blend on the Water. The waterfront view of the Manhattan skyline is absolutely beautiful, especially as the sun starts to set and the city lights come on. The atmosphere was lively, the aesthetic was gorgeous, and t...

Staff and Service

Many guests share positive experiences regarding specific servers and event coordinators who provide welcoming and attentive hospitality.

3 supporting reviews

5★ · 2024-06-17

Our server was Lizbeth she was fantastic. She helped make my husband‘s 50th birthday the best ever she was diligent and answering out questions. we came in from Naples and she Delivered all of our needs, even though we were across the count...

3★ · 2025-07-26

Over all the atmosphere was great, the food was good but there were some discrepancies that left me and my guests disappointed. I reserved a table for 11 people, along with a deposit that was paid over a week ago. When we arrived exactly at...

5★ · 2025-11-12

Thank you for your support and delicious food!!.. (July/30/25) We celebrated our wedding at Blend on the Water! We truly chose the best place to enjoy and savor the Latin American cuisine. We celebrated with our wedding sponsors and family....

Drinks and Appetizers

Reviewers often praise the strong cocktails, happy hour specials, and popular appetizers like guacamole and arepas.

2 supporting reviews

3★ · 2024-06-18

The guacamole is amazing The ambience is great too The peas And rice is good too

5★ · 2025-07-26

Appetizers were really good and delicious, guac, short rib arepa,ceviche was all on point, caprihnia was also hitting!

− Repeated complaints

Long Wait Times and Reservation Issues

Multiple reviewers report significant delays in being seated despite having reservations, as well as lengthy waits for food.

1 supporting review

1★ · 2026-01-06

I planned my birthday celebration at this restaurant for a large group with a specific reservation time. I notified the restaurant a month in advance, paid a deposit, and worked with them to create a prix fixe menu. Upon arrival, our table...

Food Quality and Inconsistency

Some guests complain that entrées can be bland, dry, small in portion size relative to price, or missing authentic flavors.

2 supporting reviews

1★ · 2024-07-06

Overall blend on the water is a total hype. The food sucks definitely not traditional latin food at all!! No seasoning, chicken was extremely dry and the service is ok. My waitress never came back to check on my table and the drink was way...

2★ · 2024-10-29

Honestly, it's frustrating to see a restaurant invest so much in its atmosphere while sacrificing the quality of the most important feature: the food. I ordered the filet mignon saltado, their take on a classic Peruvian dish, and it was tru...

Mandatory Gratuity and Feeling Rushed

Reviewers frequently mention feeling rushed by staff to finish meals and express frustration over automatically included gratuities.

3 supporting reviews

1★ · 2024-06-19

Horrendous experience. Terrible and rude customer service. I waited almost an hour for my entree and had to ask for everything. And we did not receive a single apology. The staff pretended that everything was OK. Plus, we were forced to pay...

5★ · 2024-08-20

We went there for my Moms Birthday. It would've been 100% except for the fact that we were being rushed. Rushed to b seated, Rushed to order, Rushed, Rushed, Rushed! The only time they didn't Rush, was to give us the bill. We made the best...

2★ · 2026-05-27

Review your receipt AND your bank statement - we had 40% (!) tip added to ours after we had a specific conversation with the waitress that the 20% service fee was already included. Our check only showed 20%, but the bank statement had an ad...

Good for

  • Celebrations and birthday dinners
  • Scenic date nights with skyline views
  • Happy hour drinks and appetizers

Avoid if

  • You prefer quiet spaces for intimate conversation
  • You are looking for strictly authentic, traditional Latin cuisine
  • You dislike strict time limits and mandatory service fees
Summarized from 612 text reviews not flagged by Revdict · 2024-06-08 to 2026-07-13 · Summaries can miss context; open the supporting reviews before deciding.

Review anatomy

Reviews per month

Reviews per month, total and flagged
MonthReviewsFlagged
Jun ’24451
Jul ’24524
Aug ’24423
Sep ’24393
Oct ’24405
Nov ’24242
Dec ’24313
Jan ’25419
Feb ’25416
Mar ’25545
Apr ’25292
May ’25481
Jun ’25483
Jul ’25403
Aug ’25372
Sep ’25492
Oct ’25434
Nov ’25484
Dec ’25295
Jan ’26265
Feb ’26399
Mar ’264415
Apr ’26262
May ’26330
Jun ’26398
Jul ’26131

Rating distribution

5★
4★
3★
2★
1★

Evidence

  • burst 5 five-star reviews on 2025-01-13 vs avg 0.9/day; 8 five-star reviews on 2026-03-08 vs avg 1.3/day weight 1
  • low activity account 100 reviews flagged weight 0.8
  • generic account 1 reviews flagged weight 1

Flagged reviews

Showing the 10 most suspicious of 107 flagged reviews.

Elisângela Costantini profile photo

Elisângela Costantini

2 reviews

★★★★★

2025-01-13

burst low activity account suspicion 95
Jordan Darsi profile photo

Jordan Darsi

2 reviews

★★★★★

2025-01-13

I recently dined at Blend on the Water and was thoroughly impressed by the outstanding service provided by our waitress, Lina. From the moment we were seated, Lina’s warm and attentive demeanor made us feel welcome. She was knowledgeable about the menu, offering insightful recommendations that enhan...
burst low activity account suspicion 95
Ana Arevalo profile photo

Ana Arevalo

2 reviews

★★★★★

2026-03-08

Atmosphere was nice, the service was good, and the drinks are great.
burst low activity account suspicion 95
Sadie Doreen profile photo

Sadie Doreen

1 review

★★★★★

2026-03-08

Food was ok but pictures was great I had a wonderful experience for my birthday blend on the water is a wonderful experience and good food for a nyc cuisine
burst low activity account suspicion 95
Black profile photo

Black

1 review

★★★★★

2026-03-08

This was our second visit to this restaurant, and once again the photographer 📸 captured a beautiful moment for us. Thank you for the great service and the lovely photos! We also really enjoy the food and the atmosphere here. We will definitely be coming back again!
burst low activity account suspicion 95
Marco Gomez profile photo

Marco Gomez

2 reviews

★★★★★

2026-03-08

We had a wonderful experience at this restaurant! The food was delicious, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and everything felt very special. One of the highlights was the photographer who came by and took a beautiful photo of us during our dinner. 😍 It was such a lovely surprise and a great m...
burst low activity account suspicion 95
Michelle Moncada profile photo

Michelle Moncada

2 reviews

★★★★★

2026-03-08

I celebrated my daughter’s birthday and Maria the waitress was an amazing person and super professional. Always attentive and wiling to help anyone who needed it. I recommend this restaurant 10/10
burst low activity account suspicion 95
SS profile photo

SS

5 reviews

★★★★★

2026-06-10

Had such a great time at Blend on the Water. The waterfront view of the Manhattan skyline is absolutely beautiful, especially as the sun starts to set and the city lights come on. The atmosphere was lively, the aesthetic was gorgeous, and the whole place had a fun energy without feeling too crowded....
generic account suspicion 85
Brandon San Martin profile photo

Brandon San Martin

3 reviews

★★★★★

2025-01-13

The atmosphere was incredible, with a view that made the experience even better. The food was absolutely delicious—everything was perfectly prepared and full of flavor. The highlight, though, was the exceptional service from Lina. She went above and beyond, checking in regularly to make sure we had...
burst suspicion 80
Jessica Oliveira profile photo

Jessica Oliveira

38 reviews · Local Guide

★★★★★

2025-01-13

Nice view, good food, and a good price.
burst suspicion 80

Report generated Jul 15, 2026. Reviews change — you can request a fresh investigation.

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